This is page numbers 5365 - 5412 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was women. View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Premier for that reply. My last question: it has been two-and-a-half years since the Deline agreement was signed, and it is the first one out of our 33 communities for the territory. Can the Premier provide examples of some of the work currently going on between the Deline Got'ine Government and the GNWT which supports the continuing evolution of the Deline Got'ine Government? Mahsi.

Question 682-18(3): Deline Got'ine Self-Government
Oral Questions

March 12th, 2019

Page 5378

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada, and Deline Got'ine Government are working closely together to continue the implementation of the Deline Got'ine agreement. We will be establishing a bilateral housing working group to collaboratively address housing issues in the community. All three governments are also working to renew the Deline Got'ine Government financing agreement.

In 2015, Deline developed and implemented a thoughtful and comprehensive caribou management plan for the Bluenose-East herd, to guide their community and residents based on their agreement. ENR and the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to support Deline as they review and consider any improvements to their caribou management plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement today I spoke about our water regulatory regime, and, in particular, I referred to the Commissioner in Executive Council, so I would like to ask the Premier: does the Premier acknowledge that we have the ability to now take control over our water resources and that there is no need for us to wait until the MVRMA is repatriated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has a unique co-management regulatory regime that is governed by the federal Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the Territorial Waters Act. Under the devolution agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories received authorities from the federal government with respect to land and water management under the MVRMA. Land and water boards have legislative authorities for decision making for type B water licences where a public hearing has not been held, similar to their authorities pre-devolution. For projects on territorial land, the Minister of ENR has authorities for approving type B water licences where a public hearing was held, as well as approvals of all type A water licences.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Premier for that explanation. I am not sure where this might lead with regard to my next question, but I am going to ask it to the Premier. He realizes that currently there are developing projects, such as Nighthawk, Osisko, and even TerraX, that, if they need to operate more than two drills, they need to make and continue to administer two almost identical applications for the same water board, one for land use permit with 100 cubic metres of water, the second for another 200 cubic metres of water on the same land. Will the Premier, in consultation with Cabinet and the Minister of ENR, consider revising the current 100-cubic-metre threshold to put us in line with the best practices in comparable northern jurisdictions?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

We are not currently considering revising the requirement for a type B water licence for the use of over 100 cubic metres of water per day. It is my understanding that this volume is consistent with other northern jurisdictions. In the Yukon, the 300 cubic metres is a threshold specifically related to type B licences for placer and quartz mining. All other mining has a threshold of 100 cubic metres for a type B water licence. In Nunavut, anything between 50 and 300 cubic metres requires a type B licence.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you to the Premier for that clarification again. We will get off water just for a moment, and I would like to ask the Premier: will the Premier consider a made-in-the-North solution for prescribing what information applicants for a water licence are required to submit, to ensure that the boards collect the relevant and proportionate information to practically and efficiently evaluate an application?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

The Government of the Northwest Territories works closely with regional land and water boards on information guidelines relevant to water licensing and land-use permitting processes. Guidelines exist with respect to completing water licence applications in the Mackenzie Valley. The Government of the Northwest Territories will provide feedback to the boards on recent process and any improvements that can provide efficiencies in process.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Premier for the reply. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, NRCan has just announced that exploration expenditures in the NWT have declined to the lowest level in 10 years. I would like to ask the Premier: will the Premier consider a made-in-the-North solution for prescribing timely, proportionate, and predictable procedures to be followed for a water licence application to the boards?

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Right now, only Canada can provide policy direction to the boards, but I can say that the Minister responsible for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has agreed to start discussions for the devolution of the MVRMA processes. As you may recall, there was a five-year provision to wait to begin the review, and he has indicated he is prepared to start that review right away. Independent regional land and water boards are responsible to administer processes for both type A and type B water licence applications. Maximum timelines for water licence processes already exist under the legislation. Rules or procedures have been established by land and water boards. The Government of the Northwest Territories is a strong supporter of efficient and effective resource-management decisions. We will provide the feedback to the boards on recent process. However, it is within their authority to define their process and procedures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement on homecare services, my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. It's said that we have a growing number of senior-aged people in the country, and especially here in the NWT, and so this government has gone on record to say that we encourage our elders to live in their homes for as long as possible. How does the department determine what elders may need? Sorry, I will rephrase that question. How does the department determine what elders may need in terms of special care in order for them to live well in their own homes? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Minister of Health and Social Services.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The authority identifies a client's care needs based on a home and community care assessment that is done with each client. If a client is receiving care and services through the home and community care program, their care needs are assessed on a regular basis and, if they change or they need to be modified, the program for home support can be modified. So it is based on an assessment to determine the level of supports they do need.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

How are our elders currently referred to homecare services, and who is responsible for those referrals?

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Healthcare providers such as nurses, physicians, or nurse practitioners can actually refer clients to the home and community care program. They will do the assessment and figure out what levels of support an individual needs. However, if somebody in the Member's constituency is under the impression that they do need some home supports, I would encourage them to go to the health centre, make an appointment, and get a referral.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

In the community of Fort Providence, and more likely some other communities that had undertaken programs to try to increase the level of services that could be brought into the community, and particularly for elders, there was a program that was operated by the band. I am just curious as to why the funding for the Deh Gah Gotie homemaker program was discontinued?

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I am not familiar with that program. I have asked the department to do a little bit of digging. It seems that program was a program that existed many, many, many years ago, well before my time. I could not tell the Member today why that funding was discontinued. I also don't fully understand the nature of the program, but, if the Member has some information on the program, I am happy to take it, I am happy to read it, I am happy to look at it and see if there is any opportunity for us to include the concepts and principles in the work we are doing around the continuing care action plan and living in place. It might be something that could help inform our family and paid community caregiver program and pilot, so I am certainly interested to learn about it. I do not know enough about it, but, from what I understand, it was a program that was run many, many years ago, well before my time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to meet with the communities so that he can see for himself that there is a need for additional homecare workers in the community of Fort Providence? Mahsi.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I am always happy to travel to the Member's riding, meet his constituents, and hear their concerns. If the Member is interested in doing that, I would suggest maybe contacting my office, and we will see if we could figure out a time that would work for the Member and myself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.